What Is Neuropathy?

Neuropathy affects about 8 percent of people over age 55.

Your nervous system consists of two parts: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.

The nerves of your peripheral nervous system transmit messages between your central nervous system — your brain and spinal cord — and the rest of your body.

Peripheral neuropathy, which is often simply referred to as "neuropathy," is a condition that occurs when your peripheral nerves become damaged or disrupted.

It is estimated that neuropathy affects about 2.4 percent of the general population, and about 8 percent of people older than age 55, according to a 2004 report in the medical journal The Lancet. However, this estimate doesn't include people affected by a neuropathy resulting from physical trauma to the nerves.

Types of Neuropathies

Peripheral neuropathy can affect any of the three types of peripheral nerves:

Autonomic nerves, which regulate the involuntary functions of your body

Sometimes, neuropathy will only affect a single nerve, in which case it's known as a mononeuropathy (carpal tunnel syndrome is a common example of a mononeuropathy).

Occasionally, two or more isolated nerves in separate areas of the body become damaged, resulting in a form of neuropathy called mononeuritis multiplex. Most often, however, multiple peripheral nerves throughout the body malfunction at the same time, a condition known as polyneuropathy.

Mononeuropathies are often more specifically defined by the nerves that are affected.

For instance, ulnar neuropathy refers to the damage of the ulnar nerve, which is near the elbow. Radial neuropathy is caused by trauma to the nerve that extends the length of the arm. And peroneal neuropathy affects the nerve at the outside of the lower knee. Other types of neuropathies include femoral neuropathy (in the thigh) and cervical neuropathy (in the neck region).

In all, scientists have identified more than 100 types of peripheral neuropathies, according to the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Neuropathic Symptoms

Neuropathy results in a wide range of symptoms, which vary depending on the nerves that are affected. Some common symptoms include:

Causes of Neuropathy

Neuropathy is either acquired or inherited, though sometimes its cause is unknown (this is called idiopathic neuropathy).

Because sustained high sugar levels can damage nerves over time, diabetes is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy. You may also acquire peripheral neuropathy from other health issues, including:

Rheumatoid arthritis

Chronic kidney disease

HIV

Infections such as Lyme disease and leprosy

Vitamin B12 deficiency

Thyroid problems

Other things can cause nerve damage, leading to neuropathy:

Poisoning from toxins or heavy metals

Exposure to prolonged, extreme cold

Alcohol abuse

Medications for cancer, seizures, infections, and high blood pressure

Additionally, physical trauma can lead to neuropathies. For instance, broken bones or poor-fitting casts can crush nerves. And prolonged pressure on a nerve can cause neuropathy, as is the case with carpal tunnel syndrome and various kinds of radial neuropathies, such as Saturday night palsy, wherein you compress the radial nerve after falling asleep with an arm hanging over the armrest of a chair.

There are no treatments for inherited neuropathies, such as those from the hereditary neurological disorder known as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

However, for acquired neuropathies, addressing the cause of nerve damage — such as by abstaining from alcohol, getting better nutrition, or controlling blood glucose levels — may help. Medications and other treatments are also available to help deal with nerve pain and other symptoms, if the underlying issue cannot be fixed.

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